Greg Hinz On Politics

Rhetoric heats up, too, as Washington wrangles over spending

As Washington heads toward a financial deal — or a meltdown — everyone on all sides of the fray has lots to say. A sample from today's email inbox:

Congressman Joe Walsh, R-North Barrington said Senate GOP Leader Mitch McConnell's plan to allow the president to unilaterally raise the national debt ceiling "is the same old politics as usual — it enables Congress to avoid making the tough decision."

He added, "Republicans weren't elected in November to 'Cut, Run and Hide.' "

President Barack Obama agreed that, "there's simply too much debt on America's credit card." But it's "folks in the House of Representatives" who are blocking remedial action now, he said in a town meeting on Friday morning.

"I'm willing to cut spending on domestic programs, taking them to the lowest level since Dwight Eisenhower...(But) we can't just close our deficit with spending cuts alone...The wealthiest Americans and the biggest corporations should do their part."

But Americans for Limited Government says the Senate's decision not to vote for the House's balanced-budget plan means it will bear the responsibility when credit agencies lower America's bond rating.

"When the nation is downgraded, and the markets crash, the American people now have someone to blame: Those senators that refused to take the opportunity...to restore order to the nation's fiscal house."

So it goes.

Meanwhile, the Illinois Public Interest Research Group is blasting House Republicans for moving to "cripple" new consumer protections.

Referring to an industry-backed bill that would reduce regulations, the group said those who voted for the bill "voted to protect Wall Street banks from oversight at the expense of their own constituents."